Architecture
-
An Art Deco Gem in the 8th District of Budapest
Nestled in Futó utca, a small street in Józsefváros, the 8th district of Budapest, lies one of the most exquisite examples of art deco architecture. Constructed between 1929 and 1930, this building was envisioned by Aladár Halász, who, upon its completion, moved into one of the flats with his family. In the early 2000s, the…
-
Attila út 87: Count Domonkos Teleki’s home in Budapest
This building was designed by architect Károly Möller and constructed in 1929 for Count Domokos Teleki. Situated on Attila út in Budapest’s 1st district, it holds historical significance. The Teleki family, belonging to the highest aristocracy in Transylvania and Hungary, had their main residence in the castle of Gernyeszeg (now Gorneşti in Romania). Unfortunately, the…
-
Unusual Facades of Budapest : Vak Bottyán utca 6
This uniquely designed building is located at Vak Bottyán utca 6 in the 11th district of Budapest. I could not find much information about its construction, but based on a source I found, it was designed by Miklós Nászay. According to the flat data sheets (these were forms that had to be filled out for…
-
Unusual Facades of Budapest : Budafoki út 53
This apartment house is located at Budafoki út 53 in the 11th district of Budapest. A plaque on the facade indicates that it was designed by Lipót Weil, an architect known for creating other impressive buildings, such as Nyúl utca 9—a house I’ve longed to visit. Although the exact year of construction eludes me, newspapers…
-
Abandoned Art Nouveau in Budapest : The Schöpf-Merei Hospital
An early morning in December, I was photographing the abandoned Schöpf-Merei hospital on Bakáts tér when an elderly man approached me. He shared that he used to work as an architect and was delighted to see someone appreciating the beauty of old buildings and documenting them. He then asked if he could take a photo…
-
The Budapest of the early 1980s through the lens of Benjamin Makovecz
A few years ago, I used to wake up early to explore Budapest’s flea markets, searching for vintage photos. I donated most of my discoveries to Fortepan, a copyright-free and community-based photo archive. One day, amidst my treasure hunt at Bakancsos flea market, I stumbled upon a collection of captivating black and white prints showcasing…
-
A “Romantic Castle” in the 14th District of Budapest
Is this a photo of a romantic little castle somewhere in Ireland? Not at all; this is a villa standing on Zichy Géza utca in Zugló, the 14th district of Budapest. However, it indeed has a direct link with Ireland: it was built for a famous portrait painter, Fülöp László, who wanted to impress the…
-
Dózsa György út 17 : Prewar Zsolnay tiles in the 14th district of Budapest
The apartment house at the corner of Dózsa György út and Abonyi utca has an impressive entrance adorned with tiles from the Zsolnay factory. This building, known as the “Goldman-house” after its first owner, was designed by Gyula Karvaly and constructed in 1911. It featured spacious flats that were sold to affluent residents. The exterior…
-
Semmelweis utca 2: A Glimpse into Győző Czigler’s Architectural Gem
The apartment house of the Hungarian Royal University Fund (Magyar Királyi Tudományegyetemi Alap bérháza), located at Semmelweis utca 2, stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of Győző Czigler. Completed in 1895, this edifice is one of many iconic creations by Czigler, a prolific architect whose life, though brief (born in Arad in 1850,…
-
Nagymező utca 18 : The House of the Duna Insurance Company
Upon entering Nagymező utca 18, an apartment house located at the corner of Nagymező utca and Andrássy Avenue in the 6th district of Budapest, you will notice a large iron “D” that reflects the building’s history. The ironwork of this building preserves the memory of the Duna Insurance Company, which had its headquarters here. The…
Buildings Tell Tales 